ACA Board of Directors Elects First Woman to Serve as Chair in Its History

New Orleans, La. (November 7, 2025) — Monica Manolas, Region President, Ash Grove East, is now the first woman in the American Cement Association’s (ACA) 109-year history to be elected chair of its Board of Directors. David Loomes, president of Cement Segment, Quikrete Cement, is the new vice chair. The elections took place yesterday during ACA’s 2025 Fall Meeting being held this week in New Orleans, La.

“Becoming the first woman to chair the ACA is a privilege and a responsibility I take with great pride,” Manolas said. “The cement industry is at an inflection point, advancing toward more onshore manufacturing, smarter technologies, and wider adoption of supplementary cementitious materials.

“These changes are redefining how we think about performance, resilience, and sustainability in every part of our value chain. I look forward to working with our members to strengthen our impact and build a bright future for our industry and the communities we serve,” Manolas said.

ACA President and CEO Mike Ireland said, “Today’s cement industry is focused primarily on aligning its objectives with those of the current administration’s, including working to gain energy independence, create more American jobs, and streamline a problematic permitting system.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with both Monica and David for several years, and, at this pivotal time in American manufacturing, I cannot think of two more respected, insightful, and forward-thinking professionals to lead today’s industry.”

# # #

The American Cement Association, founded in 1916, is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers. ACA supports sustainability, innovation, and safety while fostering continuous improvement in cement manufacturing, distribution, infrastructure, and economic growth. For more information, visit www.cement.org.